HL Deb 23 November 1971 vol 325 cc899-900
BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of an undesirable feature of the concealed group air fares now developing by which touts buy the cheap tickets and resell these within the time limit; and what figures have been obtained from sources other than the airlines, of the percentage of the I.A.T.A. affinity group tickets that are being sold or resold to non-members of the nominal groups, with similar figures for B.O.A.C. Earlybird tickets.]

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, the Government are aware that there has been some abuse of the existing arrangements for affinity group charter flights and my right honourable friend the Minister for Trade and Industry will be making a Statement in another place on the subject in the near future. I regret that I have no figures to give the noble Baroness which will illustrate the extent of the abuse. I have no evidence that B.O.A.C. Earlybird tickets are being improperly resold.

BARONESS BURTON or COVENTRY

My Lords, in thanking the noble Earl for that Answer and in congratulating him on at last giving a definite piece of information, may I ask him whether the Statement will be repeated in this House, and also whether he can give us any indication as to the possible date when we may expect it?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, as the matter stands at the moment, I think that the Statement is not likely to be repeated in this House but I will bear in mind the request of the noble Baroness. As regards when the Statement might be made, it will be in the near future. I cannot be more specific.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, having gained a little, may I ask the noble Earl whether the Statement could be repeated in this House, as we have done most of the work on this matter? May I further ask him at this stage whether the Statement will not only contain the list of abuses but also say how it is proposed to deal with them?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, with regard to the latter part of the question of the noble Baroness, I think it would be prudent to wait for the Statement to see what it contains. I will certainly draw to the attention of my noble friend her remarks about having the Statement repeated here.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, if there is a request from this House, is it not normal for it to be accepted?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, subject to the normal procedures I was going to suggest that this request might be passed to the Chief Whip and discussed through the usual channels. I am sure that the request will be considered very favourably.